Accelerating Digital Transformation with Algorithmic Business Thinking

MIT Sloan School of Management

Digital Business & IT

About Programme

Why attend Accelerating Digital Transformation with Algorithmic Business Thinking?

Digital transformation marks a radical rethinking of how technology, people, and processes combine to create and deliver value. This exciting new digital transformation education course introduces the concept of Algorithmic Business Thinking as a toolkit, mindset, and digital language for uniting and augmenting your human and digital capabilities, which will help you discover and uncover new opportunities throughout your digital transformation journey.

To successfully and sustainably accelerate digital transformation, we need to upgrade the way we think about, talk about, and act upon technology in our companies. Leaders need a toolkit for combining human capabilities and advanced technologies to create solutions that are more than the sum of their parts. Algorithmic Business Thinking, a concept developed here at MIT, is a series of insights and frameworks for business leaders that enable you to:

Accelerate digital transformation and optimize ROI on AI and technology investments

Upskill your workforce and extend your customer base

Create elite digital professionals who speak a common digital language inside and outside of the company

Evolve your digital transformation strategy, leadership, and management approaches

Unite human and machine capabilities to ask and answer business questions in ways that deliver competitive advantage

Course Topics

Programme Content

Orientation Module

Unit 1

Moving through a Technology Chessboard

Unit 2

Defining Algorithmic Business Thinking

Unit 3

Building Blocks and Cornerstones

Unit 4

Speaking Digitally

Module 2

Unit 1

Introduction to Algorithms

Unit 2

Introduction to Writing Algorithms (not actually writing them)

Unit 3

Introduction to Running Algorithms

Unit 4

Intro to Improving Algorithms

Testing 2

Module 3

Unit 1

Double Helix and Key Algorithmic Genes

Unit 2

Paradox of Partnership

Unit 3

Human and Algorithmic Bias

Unit 4

Double Helix for Evolution

Module 4

Unit 1

Framing Problems

Unit 2

Periodic Table of Digital Elements

Unit 3

ABT and the Future of Work

Unit 4

Putting ABT to work

Module 5

Unit 1

Creating your future today

Unit 2

Leadership Approaches

Unit 3

Managing with ABT

Unit 4

Using ABT today

Module 6

Unit 1

Creating your future today: 3E Model

Unit 2

Humans and Machines: Superminds

Unit 3

Packing and Unpacking your ABT Suitcase: Toolkit and Mindset

Unit 4

Thank you

Programme Objective

Accelerating Digital Transformation with Algorithmic Business Thinking

is delivered over seven weeks with each module released on a weekly basis (week one is an Orientation Module). This course integrates a range of engaging learning media including live webinars, videos, podcasts, faculty office hours in our MIT Sloan virtual world as well as contextual notes, readings and interactive discussion threads.

Each module is broken down into thematic units that combine video lessons and engaging learning activities to consume content and practice applying it. Throughout the program you will be supported by your dedicated MIT Sloan Digital Learning Facilitator Team. This team will guide you through your course experience and be a contact point for any questions you may have.

This digital transformation course brings together insights from a team of world-renowned MIT Faculty. It also provides participants with access to our always open 4Dx virtual environment for office hours with the Faculty Director and for networking opportunities with other learners.

You’ll leave this digital transformation course with:

A deeper understanding of advanced technologies, the patterns they share, and the critical human capabilities required to operationalize and integrate them in your company.

The ability to look at challenges and opportunities with an algorithmic mindset that breaks problems down into solvable parts and recombines those parts in a way that makes the best possible use of machines and humans.

An understanding of how to drive digital transformation that generates value now, not just in the unpredictable future

A certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management. This course may also count toward MIT Sloan Executive Certificate requirements.

As a participant in this course, you will better understand:

How to recalibrate your human and machine relationship to fit the realities of your teams and company.

The human-centered capabilities essential to digital transformation—and how to leverage machines to augment those capabilities.

How to apply key principles of computer science to a broad range of complex business problems.

You will also benefit from:

Practical examples of algorithmic business thinking in practice and their implications.

Opportunities to practice reading, writing, and improving algorithms with our hands-on activities (no programming experience required).

An introduction to a new digital language that you can speak across your company in all roles and levels.

Programme Audience

Who should attend Accelerating Digital Transformation with Algorithmic Business Thinking?

This course is designed to help all levels of management act as translators between computer science and business functions in their organization. It is particularly beneficial to those responsible for or participating in the design and delivery of AI and other transformative technology initiatives in any industry. Regardless of whether you are currently in a technical or non-technical function, if you are looking to support your organization’s digital transformation, or want to orient yourself to key principles of the digital economy, this course is for you.

Chief Learning Officers

Senior HR Leaders

Senior People Managers

VPs

Senior Directors

Technical or Non-Technical Leaders

Programme Benefits

MIT Faculty Insights

Gain insights from world-renowned MIT Faculty

Access to 4DX

Meet with your fellow learners, talk about the program, collaborate on your assignments or simply hang out and share ideas in MIT Sloan Executive Education’s always open tailored 4Dx Virtual Collaboration Center.

Algorithmic Business Thinking Journal

You will take away an Algorithmic Business Thinking “Journal” as a resource to use in your company

Certificate

Confers a certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management in the Digital Business Executive Certificate track.

Testimonials

"I enjoyed taking this course. It matches my style of thinking and provided a solid foundation for applying it to my work."

Allen N

"The Algorithmic Business Thinking Program provides a powerful shift in how to approach complex business problems. The core principlesdecomposition, abstraction, and the Double Helix linking technology and organizationare directly applicable, particularly in transformation contexts. What stands out is the focus on translating structured thinking into actionable logic, rather than staying purely conceptual. The program is clearly designed for a diverse audience, which at times leads to variations in depth across modules. However, this also makes the content broadly accessible and ensures that key concepts are well grounded. Overall, a very strong and practical learning experience that I would recommend to leaders working at the intersection of business and technology."

Theo A

"Outstanding educational experience. Highly recommended!"

Candace L

"The Algorithmic Business Thinking course was a game-changer for me. Its thought-provoking and packed with fresh insightsevery session introduced new concepts and a modern perspective on algorithms, AI, and human-machine collaboration. The course is well-structured, making complex ideas accessible and practical. Most importantly, it boosted my confidence and added a powerful new approach to my problem-solving toolkit. Highly recommended for anyone looking to lead and innovate in todays digital world. Kudos to Prof. Paul McDonagh-Smith and the MIT team for such an impressive and comprehensive course content!"

DONNA MARIE T

"This course exceeded my expectations in terms of depth, quality, and practical relevance. The frameworks and case discussions provided clear guidance on how to approach complex business and digital transformation challenges. It is a program that truly supports better decision-making and execution at a leadership level."

Richard Norman d

"As we moved into the last two modules of this course, I did not expect the material to land as personally as it did. There were moments when the connection between the concepts and my own lived experience as a leader was so direct that I found myself genuinely emotional. This course has deepened my understanding of what it means to lead in a period of profound change, where uncertainty is the default rather than the exception. Just as importantly, it unlocked a clearer understanding of myself. I can now see more concretely what I need to change in my own leadership practice in order to serve a greater good, not only for our board members, but also for our teams and for ourselves as leaders who are still learning and growing."

Scott David J

"ABT is a great learning experience!!! I have really enjoyed the journey. I feel more equipped to face AI challenges in my job."

Sonia M

"I would strongly recommend this course for everyone."

Aziz A

"This journey has been amazing! I fundamentally change my mind and my view of the approach towards the future. This course is not only providing knowledge, but also a shift in mindset, bringing new tools and perspectives to my future projects."

Emilio A

"Great course challenges your traditional approach and gets you take an approach to deliver outcomes using modern and emerging technologies"

Munawar L

Testimonial Source